The Book of Common Prayer
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    1789 U. S. Book of Common Prayer

 

SELECTIONS OF PSALMS

TO BE USED INSTEAD OF THE PSALMS FOR THE DAY, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MINISTER.


Selection First

Psalm 19
Psalm 24
Psalm 103:1-13a, 14-15


Selection Second

Psalm 139:1-18, 23-24
Psalm 114


Selection Third

Psalm 51:1-17
Psalm 42:1-7, 10-11, 13-15


Selection Fourth

Psalm 37


Selection Fifth

Psalm 1
Psalm 15
Psalm 91


Selection Sixth

Psalm 32:1-2, 5-9, 11-12
Psalm 130
Psalm 121


Selection Seventh

Psalm 23
Psalm 34
Psalm 65


Selection Eighth

Psalm 84:1-8, 10-13
Psalm 85
Psalm 93
Psalm 97


Selection Ninth

Psalm 33:1-9
Psalm 147:1-9, 11-20
Psalm 57:6, 8-12


Selection Tenth

Psalm 96:1-4
Psalm 148
Psalm 149:1-4
Psalm 150

  

 

 

[In the original book the Psalms are printed out at length; only the citations are given here.]

¶ Portions of Psalms, to be sung or said, at Morning Prayer, on certain Feasts and Fasts, instead of the Venite Exultemus, when any of the foregoing Selections are to follow instead of the Psalms, as in the table.

Christmas-day.

From Psalms xlv. lxxxix. cx.

THY seat, O God, endureth forever; the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
    Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; wherefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
    My song shall be alway of the loving-kindness of the Lord; with my mouth will I ever be showing thy truth from one generation to another.
    For I have said, Mercy shall be set up forever; thy truth shalt thou establish in the heavens.
    The Lord is our defence; the Holy One of Israel is our King.
    Thou spaketh sometime in visions unto thy saints, and saidst, I have laid help upon One that is mighty, I have exalted One chosen out of the people.
    I will set his dominion in the sea, and his right hand in the floods.
    And I will make him my First-born, higher than the kings of the earth.
    The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
    The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion; be thou ruler, even in the midst among thine enemies.
    In the day of thy power shall the people offer thee free-will offerings with an holy worship: the dew of thy birth is of the womb of the morning.
    The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Meichizedech.


Ash-Wednesday.

From Psalms xxxii. xxxviii. cxxx.

BLESSED is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven, and whose sin is covered.
    Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
    Put me not to rebuke, O Lord, in thine anger ; neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure:
    For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
    My wickednesses are gone over my head, and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to bear.
    I will confess my wickedness; and be sorry for my sin.
    Haste thee to help me, O Lord God of my salvation.
    Out of the depth have I called unto thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice.
    Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
    If thou, Lord, shouldest be extreme to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who shall stand?
    But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.


Good-Friday.

From Psalms xxii. lxix. xl.

MY God my God! look upon me; why hast thou forsaken me? and art so far from my health, and from the words of my complaint?
    But thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
    I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
    All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
    He trusted in God, that he would deliver him; let him deliver him, if he will have him.
    The council of the wicked layeth siege against me; they pierced my hands and my feet.
    They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
    But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
    Thy rebuke hath broken my heart; I am full of heaviness: I looked for some to have pity on me, but there was no man, neither found I any to comfort me.
    They gave me gall to eat; and when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.
    Sacrifice and meat-offering thou wouldest not, but mine ears hast thou opened.
    Burnt-offerings and sacrifice for sin hast thou not required: then said I, Lo, I come;
    In the volume of the book it is written of me, that I should fulfil thy will, O my God: I am content to do it; yea, thy law is within my heart.


Ascension-Day.

From Psalms xxiv. xlvii.

LIFT up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
    Who is the King of glory? the Lord strong and mighty; even the Lord mighty in battle.
    Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
    Who is the King of glory? Even the Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.
    O clap your hands together, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
    For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
    God is gone up with a shout; the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
    Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
    God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
    The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham; for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.


Whitsunday.

From Psalms ii. lxviii.

I WILL declare the decree: The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
    Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.
    Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
    Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
    Sing unto God, sing praises to his Name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
    Thou, O God, sentest a gracious rain upon thine inheritance, and refreshedst it when it was weary.
    The Lord gave the word; great was the company of those that published it.
    Though ye have lain among the pots; yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
    Thou hast ascended on high ; thou hast led captivity captive; thou has received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
    Bless the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits; even the God of our salvation.
    Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth: O sing praises unto the Lord;
    To him that rideth upon the heaven of heavens, which were of old: lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
    Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
    O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places; the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

 

The remainder of the Psalter is given on our page devoted to the Psalter of the 1789, 1892, and 1928 Psalters

 

 
BCP Page

 

First page of the Psalter, from a BCP published in 1865.

 

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